VIRUSES IN THE CHURCH by Dave Howe.

There have been a lot virus attacks coming these last few weeks both to myself and my friends.

Some have been offline for sometime because of this  -  I have stopped these viruses from causing any harm to my computer due to tricks I have learned to stop them from becoming active  – You get to know what look out for and the feel of things.

For some did get past my virus scanner even when its updated every week.

( Yes I am clean )

This could be a warning to the church I feel.

A warning about viruses in the church that have been planted that we do not know about  - But are now coming to life in a big way  -  These viruses  - These doctrines made of man are taking control and deleting the life out of much the church  -  Killing and damaging many ministries so that they do not work as the Lord intended  -  Damaging many people.

There are many ideas that fellowships are trying out just because it looks right  -  Importing them from other fellowships into their home fellowships to try out.

Yes the Lord may have told those other fellowships to do that in their area  -  But that does not make it right for their - Our home fellowships.

There are now many books about on how to make your fellowship grow  -  On how to prophesy  -  On how to be the best pastor  - The best worship leader or group  -  How to be the best church  -  On discipleship  –  On how to do just about anything.

For we have bought in many teachers to tickle our ears I fear without knowing it.

Its like the Bible is being pushed into second place by these books  -  The Word of God being turned around to prove these books  -  Like these books being used to test the Word of God. Being put above the Word Of God  -  Instead of the Word of God being used to test all things as it should be.

So often we try to mould the Word of God into what we want  -  Into our image.

Some time ago I heard a preacher say that we make our plans and the Lord orders them using the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord to do this.

The heavy shepherding movement is coming back to life in many place’s under a new name.

Its now coming back in the form of well meaning but self appointed apostolic councils that are asking and demanding in some places that fellowships and other people submit themselves to their rule  -  For we are Gods top rulers on the earth they say – Handing down orders for everybody else to obey or else.

You have to be under us they say  - Have to be accountable to us  -  But who are they accountable to.

They would say to God -  But if we were to say the same thing to them they would say no – no – we will tell you if you are hearing God or not

Its just an extension of the pyramid structure that has developed in many places.

This pyramid structure and their apostolic world councils is one the these viruses that has infected much of the church.

These structures are the counterfeits of the devil  -  Viruses planted to try and stop the real thing  –  For God is restoring the church to how it should be.

For there are true apostils and prophets in the church just as there are pastors – teachers and evangelists.

Many fellowships in the west are now run by business men  -  Their fellowships run like business in the same way one would run a business in the world using the same tricks the world does to advertise their products  -  And the people just get drawn in  -  Thinking that this is the way to go  -  Thinking that this is true Christianity.

Last week two very disturbing thing happening happened  - I was talking to someone I respect and have known for years  -  Someone who has helped me a lot in past.

I was talking about what’s happening with my legs  -  Telling that person what’s happened spiritually since we last spoke.

As I was talking about how I believe in co-accountability  -  Not in having someone over you as with this covering doctrine that’s taken root in many places  -  He was getting more agitated as I spoke  -  He then said  -  “ you have to have someone over you “.

As he said this a hand like claw came at me and tried to grab me  - I had to fend it off and was shocked by what had happened.

I did not say anything to him  - I just finished the conversation – Saying good bye as you do.

Then three day later I was speaking to someone else about the same thing  -  This person said  “ But you don’t allow yourself to be vetted do you “  And the same thing happened again  - A hand tried to grab me again  -  I said  “ can I say something to you  - You under a pyramid structure “ The person said  “ It may look that but it not like that “  I said  “ We are going to have to agree to disagree about this one “.

“ Just watch the fruit “ I said.   I left it at that  -  but felt so sad.

When I got home I had fight off confusion that kept coming against me  -  I felt so hot when this was happening  - Its was a fight.

It took the rest of the day to put a stop to this  - I felt so sad for these people that I cried a bit.

I believe that we should all work as a team  - Just like the members of our bodies work as team  -  Each part doing its work as the Lord intended  - Just like our natural bodies do.

Some as apostils – prophets – teachers – evangelists and pastors  -  Non above the others but all in co-accountability with each other.

No where in the bible do I see one man set over all the others  -  No one set man making the up the rules on who should do this and that as we have in many places today.

For we still have a system of professional clergy and laity even in many of our fellowship today  -  Its just called by other name.

And the people think that’s the way it should be  - It may not be their fault for that’s the way they are told it should be  -  Taught by many of our bible schools. 

Many of our bible schools just cram the peoples heads with knowledge which puffs them up.

Many have a real call of God upon their lives and are told they have to go bible school to learn how to minister  -  These bible schools then un-teach what the Holy Spirit taught them.

They come out different people as if something has gotten hold of them  - Their personalities completely changed in some instances.

Its like they have been reprogrammed  - Like a computer infected by a virus.

Not all bible schools are like this – I am not against bible schools when used in the right way.

The Holy Spirit teaches us all things by the anointing within by the Word of God.

Yes we must test all things by the Word  -  Hold on the Good and avoid every evil.

And yes we will make mistakes  - Sometimes rejecting what is good  -  But we learn from these mistakes as we keep humble before the Lord  -  For we are not perfect  - Being influenced by our flesh and world we live in with its temptations and desires.

But as we grow up into Christ  -  He shall increase as we decrease  -  There will be fewer mistakes as we learn to hear his still small voice telling us  “ This is the way to go – Walk in it  - Stay upon that narrow way  -  For my sheep hear my voice and obey “  For he is our great shepherd – Jesus Christ.

We must be co accountable to each other with Jesus Christ as our head  -  With no one putting themselves above others in the place of Christ  -  For that is pride  - Remember how Lucifer fell from heaven  -  He wanted to be above – Be over God  - But was cast down into hell.

WORD.

Repent my people  -  Be humble and gentle with each other as I was humble and gentle before you when I took that cross upon my back just for you  -  When I took those nails into my hands and feet for you  -  When I said  “ Father forgive them for they know not what they do “.

For I gave my life for you all my people  -  Yes I poured out my blood as a final sacrifice before my Fathers throne just for you  -  My blood I sprinkled in person upon the mercy seat just for you my precious – Precious sheep  -  For I saw that you were all like sheep without a shepherd  - You had all gone astray.

Come – Stop thinking more highly of yourselves than you should  -  But consider others better than yourselves  -  Yes have a humble attitude  -  For before honour comes humility.

My people – Lay your plans down  -  Lay down your ideas about how to run my church  - For I AM your head and you are my body upon the earth.

For I gave some to be apostils – Some to be prophets  - Some to pastors – teachers and evangelists  -  All given for building up of my body into perfection until I come  -  Not given

to build the kingdoms of men.

Come – Repent my people  -  Repent and build upon the Rock of my Son  -  For I am the chief corner stone  –  A foundation that shall never be moved.

Those that build upon me shall never fall when the waters rise and the wind blows  -  But those who have used my gifts to build their own kingdoms will fall  -  For my Word will not be in them or under them as a rock.

For all houses built upon the ways of this world will fall when rivers rise and the winds blows.

Come – Repent  -  For I am still holding my hands out in love to you  -  Come – Take hold of my hands so that I can guide you.

For soon my father will close the door upon this world just as he closed the door of Noah’s ark in days of old when he had to judge the world  -  For he will judge this world by fire when the elements will melt with fervent heat  -  Only those who are hidden in Jesus Christ will be safe on that day.

Come – For I want non to perish  -  But for all to find true life in me  -  Come – Repent  -  Let me clean those viruses of sin from you  -  For I can only clean you if you repent.

For without repentance there can be no forgiveness.

Stop thinking that you are better than those around you  -  But lift one another up to God with Holy fear within your hearts  -  I say again  - Consider yourselves with sober judgement lest you have to be judged  -  For soon I will come as a thief in the night  -  Will come to take what is of my kingdom says the Lord.

Let us inquire of the Lord as David inquired of the Lord  -  Let us repent as David repented when the prophet pointed out his sin  -  Let us walk that narrow way that so few find.

For wide is the road to destruction  - But narrow is the way to life  - Just as that road was narrow when Jesus carried the cross for us.

Let us return to the way it should be  -  Not using the worlds way of doing things which may impress people but will not last  -  For there is no real life those ways  -  You have work hard to keep those ways going  -  But  “ take my yoke upon you  - For my burden is light “ says the Lord.

Lets deal with those computer viruses  - Those doctrines made of men  -  Let us follow the Lord in every way and watch him confirm his Word before us with signs following as we obey his ways.

For his ways are higher than our ways  - His thoughts deeper than our thoughts – Now that’s a far better way.

Dave Howe  25^th May 2001.